Bay Alarm Medical Reviews
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About Bay Alarm Medical
Bay Alarm Medical is a company that specializes in providing medical alert systems and services. It offers home-based and mobile systems with 24/7 professional monitoring services. In-home systems are leased with no upfront costs and must be returned when you cancel. Monthly fees start between $24.95 and $37.95.
Pros & Cons
Pros
- Easy to use
- GPS tracking capabilities
- Optional fall detection
- Caregiver tools
Cons
- Upfront equipment charge (most systems)
- Not all devices are 100% waterproof
Bottom Line
Bay Alarm Medical’s systems are relatively simple to set up and operate. They are also reasonably priced, though some upgrades, like custom pendant charms, can get expensive.
Featured Reviews
I purchased the mobile plus SOS package with caregiver tracking and fall detection for $39.95/month plus lockbox. The set up instructions were easy and initial tests were answered...
Read full review… The few times it was used, the service was very prompt and given in a very kind and calm way. And when we tested the system on occasion, it was always an easy process. The retur...
Read full reviewBay Alarm Medical alert systems
Bay Alarm Medical
SOS Home
Starting at $24.95 per month as of publishing date
System comes with a 100% waterproof help button. It has a range of up to 1,000 feet and a battery life of up to five years. Optional fall detection is available.
Bay Alarm Medical
SOS All-In-One
Starting at $24.95 per month as of publishing date
Lightweight (1.8 ounces) device with a battery life of up to 72 hours. The equipment is water-resistant and safe to wear in the shower. Optional fall detection is available.
Bay Alarm Medical
SOS Smartwatch
Starting at $34.95 per month as of publishing date
Water-resistant smartwatch with GPS location tracking. The device is optimized for daily use. No smartphone is required.
Bay Alarm Medical
SOS Mobile
Starting at $29.95 per month as of publishing date
On-the-go system has a battery life of up to six days. It’s lightweight (1.3 ounces) and has caregiver-tracking capabilities. Optional fall detection is available.
Bay Alarm Medical costs and features
Bay Alarm offers four different medical alert devices: SOS All-In-One, SOS Mobile, SOS Smartwatch and SOS Home. Monthly costs start at $24.95 for the SOS Home and increase to a starting cost of $37.95 for the SOS All-In-One.
You can add fall detection to Bay Alarm Medical’s SOS Mobile, SOS All-In-One and cellular SOS Home packages for an extra $10 per month plus a one-time $30 equipment fee. Bundle packages, which come with mobile fall detection plus wireless wall buttons, are available starting at $39.95.
We like that there’s no charge if you trigger the alarm by mistake. However, it does cost extra for a warranty plan. With the warranty, you get one free device replacement per contractual year and 50% off accessory replacements, so it might be worth it.
Keep in mind that you might have to pay more if your modem is incompatible with the device. “It will now cost us $10 more per month unless our Verizon provider can install another modem that is compatible, which I’m in the process of checking now,” a reviewer in Florida said.
SOS All-In-One | SOS Mobile | SOS Smartwatch | SOS Home | |
---|---|---|---|---|
Monthly cost | Starting at $37.95 | Starting at $29.95 | Starting at $34.95 | Starting at $24.95 |
Equipment cost | $159 | $159 | $255 | Leased at no cost |
Warranty upgrade | $2.95 per month | $2.95 per month | $4.95 per month | $2.95 per month |
Two-way voice communication | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ |
Optional fall detection | ✔ | ✔ | ✘ | ✔ |
GPS location tracking | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✘ |
Battery life | Up to 72 hours | Up to 6 days | 6-18 hours | Up to 5 years (button) |
100% waterproof help button | ✘ | ✘ | ✘ | ✔ |
Caregiver tracking | ✔ | ✔ | ✘ | ✘ |
Connection type | Cellular | Cellular | Cellular | Landline or cellular |
How Bay Alarm Medical works
Bay Alarm medical alert systems consist of a base station and wearable help button, which can be in the form of a pendant or wristband. When a person experiences an emergency or requires assistance, they press the help button on the wearable device.
Once you’re connected to the monitoring center, the operators dispatch appropriate assistance, such as contacting family members, friends or emergency services.
Medical alert systems are designed to provide assistance and peace of mind, particularly for older adults or people with medical conditions who may require immediate help in case of an emergency. With fall detection, the device can automatically detect a fall and trigger an alert to the monitoring center, even if you’re unable to press the help button.
A reviewer in Minnesota purchased a Bay Alarm system for their mother and was happy with the response she received after falling.
“She had fallen in her home and was stuck between the chair and table,” they said. “Bay Alarm contacted us immediately and we were able to get to her promptly and help her. They stayed on the line and relayed from us to her on the estimated time for us to arrive. It helped relieve her anxiety knowing someone was on the line with direct communication.”
Bay Alarm Medical caregiver app
Bay Alarm’s app (included in SOS Mobile and SOS All-In-One) lets you get notifications, track your loved one’s location and more. A reviewer in Pennsylvania highlighted that multiple people can log in to it at the same time — a convenient feature for aging parents who have multiple children.
The app also lets you make changes to your emergency contacts and home entry information, and it sends you notifications when the system’s battery is low.
A reviewer in Louisiana said the tracking app is “kinda confusing,” but a reviewer in California said tech support is very helpful if you contact them with any questions about it.
Bay Alarm Medical vs. Medical Guardian vs. Life Alert
Compare Bay Alarm to similarly rated medical alert companies.
Monitoring fees | $24.95-$37.95 | $29.95 to $44.95 per month | $49.95 to $69 per month |
---|---|---|---|
Equipment cost | $0-$255 | $0 to $199.95 | $0 |
Activation fee | $0 | $0 | $198 |
Fall detection | Yes | No | |
Trial period | 30 days | No | No |
Caregiver tools | None | ||
Read Reviews | Read Reviews | Read Reviews |
Bay Alarm Medical FAQ
What is Bay Alarm Medical?
Bay Alarm Medical is a home health care service based in Concord, California. It is part of the Balco Properties family of companies.
What is Bay Alarm Medical’s refund and cancellation policy?
Bay Alarm Medical doesn’t hold customers to contracts, so you can cancel at any time without cancellation fees. However, it’s important to note that your account will not be canceled until the equipment has been returned and processed.
Only then does Bay Alarm Medical refund any unused months, minus shipping costs. If you get the quarterly or annual plan and cancel early, Bay Alarm will prorate your refund, minus shipping or any promotions. Be aware that the company requires three months of paid service for free shipping.
How long does it take to get a response once the device is triggered?
Bay Alarm Medical’s average response time is about 45 seconds, and most calls are answered in less than a minute.
Does Medicare, Medicaid or insurance Bay Alarm Medical alert systems?
No, Medicare doesn’t cover any of the emergency alert devices, but long-term care insurance might.
Does it cost extra to add my spouse to the monitoring service?
No, free spouse coverage is included in Bay Alarm Medical’s packages.
Is Bay Alarm Medical a good company?
Bay Alarm Medical is a good option for older adults who want a wearable help button. Upfront costs are a little higher than other top medical alert companies, but we like that Bay Alarm has a 30-day risk-free trial, no long-term contracts and GPS location tracking for no additional fee. It’s also one of our top picks for medical alerts with fall detection.
Bay Alarm is easy to set up and has excellent service, but “the device is sensitive so it takes a little getting used to find the best spot to wear, carry or attach it,” according to a reviewer in New York.
Bay Alarm Medical Reviews
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Reviewed Nov. 2, 2023
We received the devices and started using them. We have not had a real emergency during the time that we've had them, but we've had three false alarms just getting used to having the equipment and the button getting in the way when we're doing something else. The people have been very kind, considerate and understanding that mistakes are made. It's not a perfect system for us as well. It would be better if we could speak through the device that we wear rather than having to get to the main box in case of a real need. The need to answer a phone or get to the main box will prove to be a handicap. Besides that, we're satisfied and happy with Bay Alarm. Any time we've needed to be on the telephone with them, they've always been very helpful and courteous.
Hi Tabitha,
Thank you for sharing your honest feedback. We are glad to hear that everything is working well so far. As a reminder, if the dispatcher cannot hear you, they will try to contact you by phone to ensure it is not a false alarm. If they cannot establish communication, they will treat it as an emergency and follow protocol. However, if this becomes more bothersome and doesn't seem to work for your needs, please know we do have other product options. We're happy to help - Thank you!
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Reviewed Oct. 23, 2023
My father just had a knee surgery, so I wanted to have something to help keep an eye on things 'cause he's alone. We signed up with Bay Alarm. I signed off on it and they put in my name since I wanted to have access to it. We were trying out stuff and we wound up getting a lot of the equipment, more than we thought we'd need just to try to test things out during the trial period. There's a bit of struggle in trying to return some things, but other than that, everything's been good.
Hi Elliot - We hope dad's recovery is going well and he is getting better from the infection. We know how stressful these situations can be so our team is here if you have any questions or concerns. It does look like our team was able to take care of the product you no longer needed and refunded that amount. Please let us know if you need any further assistance, we're happy to help! Please send our warmest wishes to dad for a speedy recovery!
Reviewed Oct. 22, 2023
I got Bay Alarm for my grandma. I have a necklace that's beside her couch. But the main thing is having them put up periodically throughout the house, one beside the bed and one in the bathroom. If she were to fall and didn't have any way to use the phone and she couldn't really remember numbers, she could just find the button on the wall and push it. So, I really like the big button emergency. It's been a good experience. It's been used twice. One by accident, and one time, she hit it. They were fast to respond. They were real nice and talked with my grandma. It gives me ease of comfort.
Hi George - Thank you for sharing your experience with setting Grandma up with our services. We are so glad to hear that she is covered in the high risk areas throughout the house and that our dispatchers are responding promptly. It's great to hear that you have some peace of mind knowing she won't be alone if anything were to happen. You're an awesome grandson for taking care of her and making sure she is safe! If you or Grandma need anything else, please do not hesitate to give us a call.
Reviewed Oct. 21, 2023
Having Bay Alarm, I'm no longer worried about falling or injuring myself or having a sudden heart attack because I just press a button and I get help. However, I was not happy with the way they introduced me to the system. I had to call up and ask a lot of questions to learn how to use it. When you test the device, the first thing that comes on is a recording that says, "If this is not an emergency, press the button again for several seconds." Later, I found out that you're not supposed to do this. Even though they tell you to do this, they then later on tell you not to do that. This is ridiculous. I had to have one of their people explain to me about it.
Another complaint I have is that they don't make clear you get two devices and when it's best to use one or the other. One has a built-in speaker so you can wear it anywhere. The other one is for use around the house. When someone signs up, Bay Alarm should send a human being to their house to sit with them for 15 minutes and explain everything. But other than that, once I got settled in the system, I'm happy with it.
Hi Michael - Thank you for taking the time to share your recent experience. We apologize for the confusion and any frustration this may have caused. We will be sharing your feedback with our team to ensure we improve the overall experience in setting up & testing. We are glad you brought this concern to our attention and we are happy to hear that our agent was able to assist you promptly. Please don't hesitate to give us a call should you need anything else. We're happy to help!
Reviewed Oct. 20, 2023
I was unimpressed with other medical alert device providers. I couldn't deal with them anymore. But Bay Alarm was polite and they didn't seem concerned that I was asking questions. That was good compared to other companies that simply wanted me to buy as opposed to explaining things to me. I wear their device around my neck and I've inadvertently pressed the button a couple of times. I got a phone call from them within a minute. Now, I wear it backwards so the bottom of the button faces my body. With the device, I'm slightly more confident walking around. I'm happy with the customer service.
Hi Nancy - Thank you so much for your honest feedback. We understand that a medical alert pertains to your safety and peace of mind, so please don't ever hesitate to give us a call with any questions or concerns you may have! It's great to hear that you are feeling more confident (and safe!). We appreciate hearing from you.
Best regards,
Bay Alarm Medical Team
Reviewed Nov. 2, 2023
My mom fell at her home and ended up being hospitalized. With her having the Bay Alarm device, we feel safer with her living alone. Their team has always been very pleasant and helpful. We feel very cared for and it has given me peace of mind.
Hi Ami,
We hope that mom is recovering and feeling much better. We know how scary these situations can be! We are happy to be there for mom if she needs us. Please let us know if there is anything else we can assist you with. Thank you for your feedback!
Reviewed Oct. 22, 2023
They called me and asked if I planned on activating my device. I said, "Well, I thought it was already activated." Also. once I set the device off accidentally. They called me and said, "You okay?" I'm about as happy as I could be.
Reviewed Oct. 21, 2023
I'm happy with the Bay Alarm Medical. My friend is the one who has the alert and her complaints with it have more to do with cognitive decline and that they're not helping her because she forgets to take the button with her a couple of times since we've had the alert. They're always very professional, but they're friendly. When we call to do a test, there's no problem. My friend turned off the wrong light switch one time, so we had to reset. When we called them for instructions or help or information on another product, I found them to be very helpful.
Reviewed Oct. 21, 2023
My mom has set her Bay Alarm Medical off a couple of times and immediately, the machine talks to us and asks if everything is okay. Everybody that we've had to deal with has been quite exceptional. So far, so good. I have a little less hesitation not working out of the house now because she has a device and she wears it. I know that if she falls, she will press the button and help will come.
Hi Beth - Wow thank you for sharing your feedback! We are so happy to hear that mom is safe and you have some peace of mind while you are away from mom. We hope mom is doing well and feeling good with the added protection. Please feel free to give us a call should you need anything else. Thank you!
Reviewed Oct. 21, 2023
Bay Alarm Medical is good. I try to put it on before I go out of the house. Every day, I remember to put it on. It's nice to have it. It's convenient. Since I know it's doing its job, I forget about it.
Bay Alarm Medical Company Information
- Social media:
- Company Name:
- Bay Alarm Medical
- Company Type:
- Private
- Year Founded:
- 1946
- Formerly Named:
- Bay Alarm Medical
- Address:
- 2600 Stanwell Drive
- City:
- Pacheco
- State/Province:
- CA
- Postal Code:
- 94520
- Country:
- United States
- Website:
- www.bayalarmmedical.com